The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter
TWO house-breaking suspects who were part of a notorious gang that had terrorised Nyanga residents have been slapped with a five-year jail term each after they were convicted of stealing laptops.
Nyanga provincial magistrate, Mr Ignatio Mhene convicted Amidu Mukwamba (40) of Ndorikanda Village in Mutasa and Peter Chivasa (35), who resides at Number 8525, Natview Park in Mutare.
They were facing allegations of breaking into an Internet shop where they looted laptops and various other wares in Honde Valley. Mr Kelvin Mufute prosecuted.
The court heard that the suspects who were denying the charges pounced on e-World Internet Shop at Hauna Business Centre.
“The complainant is Wilson Madzitire who is a general dealer. The two accused persons connived and approached the complainant’s shop during the night. They were armed with a bolt cutter and went straight to the back of the shop where they broke the windowpane and opened it. They then used the bolt cutter to cut the burglar bars and gained entry.
“While inside the shop, they stole 12 laptops, six laptop bags and 19 pairs of shoes. They vanished from the scene.”
On August 1, police detectives received information to the effect that the accused persons were selling suspected stolen property which included cellphones, laptops and shoes at Manica Bridge.
Detectives reacted to the information quickly and proceeded to Manica Bridge where they met Mukwamba at his homestead.
“The detectives searched him and found a cellphone in his pockets. They went to his bedroom and recovered another tablet cellphone. During interrogations, he indicated that he had stolen the items from Hauna together with Chivasa,” said Mr Mufute.
Mr Mhene, however, set aside one year of sentence on condition of good behaviour while another year was set aside on condition that they restitute the complainant of the goods they stole.
This means that they will serve an effective three years.
In an unrelated case, four Nyanga men who were recently hauled before the courts on allegations of stealing TelOne transmission steel poles which they later sold to welders in the resort village will know their fate on Monday.
The quartet –who was denying the charges resulting in the case going for trial – had their bail conditions revoked.
They are now awaiting judgment on Monday while in custody.
Allegations were that the suspects teamed up on two separate occasions to steal a total of 21 poles all valued at $630.
Kudzai Mashingauta (22), Godwin Nyamugafata (26), Shakemore Magoneko (33) and Simbarashe Magoneko (20) were charged for contravening Section 89 (4) (b)of the Postal Telecommunications Act, Chapter 12:05 which criminalises willful damage to or interference or theft of telecommunications lines or apparatus.
Public prosecutor, Mrs Anesu Tsikwa, told the court that Mashingauta and Nyamugafata teamed up to steal the poles in 2015 at Muzoro area.
“The complainant in this case is TelOne represented by Mr Israel Sahwenje, a loss control officer. Sometime in 2015, the two accused persons connived to cut off TelOne telephone steel poles. They used a hacksaw to commit the crime. They cut off 15 poles and later sold them to Caleb Mugadza.
“Detectives received a tip-off about the case and arrested the suspects. Upon being interviewed, the two confessed to have stolen the poles which were later recovered at Mugadza’s residence at House Number 1259, Nyamhuka 1, Nyanga. The value of the stolen property is $450,” she said.
The Magoneko brothers are alleged to have stolen the poles this year.
Mrs Tsikwa said the two brothers from Muwi Village under Chief Saunyama used a hacksaw to cut six poles from Muzoro area.
“They sold the loot to Tendai Mutoriti a welder at Tombo Business Centre and the value of the stolen property is $180. The stolen poles were later recovered by detectives after information leaked which linked the two brothers to the commission of the crime,” she said.
